Lexus LS 460 Owner Experiences

Comments

My 2007 LS460L (touring package) does the same thing. My car is currently at the dealer to have the valve spring recall fix completed and I mentioned this problem. I will post the outcome when I get the car back. Sorry to hear you are experiencing this problem but I am glad to know I am not alone.

My parents are visiting me in the Florida panhandle in their 2008 LS460. This is my dad's 5th Lexus and he stated clearly, his last. At purchase, the radio reception was horrible. After multiple dealer visits, they replaced the receiver module in the dash, after waiting weeks for the parts. A dead battery a couple months ago was blamed on a dome light being left on, although the doors supposedly close themselves and the battery is supposed to have rundown protection. Last month the recall for the top-end overhaul due to bad valve springs, supposedly with an extended engine warranty to 100k, although no document has shown up yet. Finally, New Years weekend the drivers seatbelt would not latch. Looking closely it appears the lighted portion of the latch broke off and has jammed the mechanisim. A weekend e-mail to Lexus resulted in an auto-reply stating a representative would contact me shortly. The nearest Lexus dealer is 100 miles away in Mobile AL, they advised me to bring it in, leave it, they'd order parts and I could pick it up when ready. His Atlanta dealer told him he could take it to a Toyota dealer they'd order the parts and he'd have to pay for the repair. Lexus would "probably" reimburse him if he mailed in the paperwork. As mentioned by other posts, none of this is the expectation of a 75k car, nor indicative of any "relentless pursuit of perfection". My expectation would have been that Lexus would have sent either a driver or flatbed with a loaner to replace dad's car while the seatbelt was repaired. The lack of regard for safety as well as local seatbelt laws is not acceptable in a 20k Kia, let alone a 75k Lexus.

Sorry to report that the dealer told me there was nothing wrong with the brakes but they did "adjust" them. I have not had the problem in the past weeks so maybe this fixed the issue. Will post again if I have anything else to add.

I had the valve spring recall completed on my 07 LS460L and am now experiencing sluggish acceleration. The day after getting the car back I was making a right turn onto a busy street and needed to aggressively merge into traffic. To my surprise the car barley moved at all and I was almost hit. After avoiding that potential disaster, I entered an inclined freeway on-ramp and gave it some gas. The engine strained and would not accelerate but the revs kept slowly climbing. Once I finally reached freeway speeds everything seemed fine. Coming back home I had to enter the freeway again but there was a Scion XA next to me so I floored the car to pass him up the on-ramp but to my surprise I was not able to pass this little car and had to break off my attempt to pass. Again the revs did climb slowly but did not seem to be putting any power down to accelerate. This was very frustrating that my 380 hp car could not get in front of a 115 roller skate.

I called the service adviser at the dealer who told me the transmission was reset and is now learning how I drive. This sounds very strange to me and I am not sure I like a transmission making decisions for me, I thought that is what the gas pedal is used for.

I will be bring the car back for a full check up and would appreciate any insight from you if you have experienced similar acceleration issues.

Hey, I am still trying to get over that fact that this 70+ thousand dollar car needed a complete set of valve springs.

You have hit the two biggest problems with this car right on the head. The computer trys to learn how it is the driver is driving and then makes adjustments, I guess. That is why the car never drives the same way twice, at least for me. My wife and I both drive the car. The computer is always confused. LOL The dimwits who designed this system should be shot.

The other problem is the 8 speed transmission. At highway speeds, it is fine. At slow speeds in traffic, it shifts too often and at the wrong times. They cannot correct these flaws. You take it to the dealer and it is operating as designed. Of course it is! Anyone out there want a 2007 LS460?

I am getting anxious about taking my car in for the recall. Am scheduled for next week. Anybody had it performed at Lexus of Orlando? Would like to know what your experiences have been in how the car performed afterward, and how long did it take. Also, what kind of rental did they give you. thanks for the info. I don't know why a $70K car should need this anyway.

After reading these comments, I am amazed! My dealer (Lexus of Las Vegas) must truly be exceptional. I have had 3 LS', and since 2002 their customer service has always amazed me at how excellent it is. I always get a free Lexus loaner, they have always taken care of whatever I needed, also fixed the little dings on the car for me for very little money, washed the car well, and treated me with amazing respect and courtesy. It's one reason I keep going back. I've never been treated better at any dealership. Currently have a 2009 LS460, and have had no problems at all after 25,000 miles. Very happy with the car and the dealer. :blush:

I am sure there are many who have positive experiences with their dealers. That may speak to the fact that you have been fortunate not to have some of the same mechanical issues others have had. I don't believe your 2009 is part of the valve spring recall and probably not part of a number of other issues that have been corrected in later versions of the LS since 2007. Having used three different dealerships in dealing with my own issues, I can tell you that none of them were able to duplicate my experiences or find something on their computers that would indicate I had an issue. Either I am crazy, or my 48 years of enthusiasm for all things automobile were not worth much. There is no doubt in my mind that many of the issues I have with my LS are issues that the company cannot fix. Thus, they give lip service to their warranty and hope that there are more people who are not quite as picky as I am.

You're right about the mechanics of today, they're all just computer technicians, and if the light's not on, there's no code, therefore no problem. My only two problems I ever had with my prior LSes, were Lexus Link, and the Magic Steering Wheel, both of which throw no codes, but were obvious problems. They fixed them with no problem. I don't doubt you have issues, nor do I doubt your experience with the dealers at all.

I have read about the "Executive Seats" which I think recline with a footrest. I looked thru the Lexus web site and can't tell exactly how you get this. It says it comes in a package but I can't find where it says what package. Package C is $9,200 and does not mention this but is the most expensive one. Anyone know whether Package C includes these seats?

Just purchased a 2008 CPO LS460L. A few questions: does Lexus provide a cargo mat for trunk or do you only get it yourself aftermarket? Rear rotors were rusted pretty good. Dealer claims they tried to clean them but "rotor was rusted through" and when they cleaned them they didnt come very clean. They look terrible. Should I push the dealer harder? I tried and he offered to buy the car back but refused to try cleaning any harder or replace rotor ("several thousand $$"). Finally, I just noticed some small wind noise at high speeds from driver side window? Am I missing something?

The Cargo Mat is optional, or can be purchased from Lexus Accessories after.

The Brakes are not impaired from the rust, and depending upon the wetness of your climate, may diminish with use. Unless you are in the rain belt.

They all have a little wind noise from the driver's window at high speed. My 09 does it too. It's not terrible for me, I can live with it for all of the beauty, quality and features of the car. But even if it really tweaks you, there is nothing that can be done so far.

I have dealt with Lexus Of Las Vegas and Im very upset with how they conduct their business. They claim to do 161 points inspection to make a vehicle certified (CPO). I have several friends who bought CPO from them and it always turned out to have major problems. I had the same experience with them. This dealership is cutting corners. Dont buy anything from them !

My LS 460 has 9600 miles on it. Since 1000 miles it has had a ping at idle..600rpm and up to 1000 rpm. It comes and goes. The sound is more like a high pitch "teek teek teek" above the normal engine noise. It sounds like it is coming from just in front of the firewall. Almost like a rattle or precombustion....or valve lifters or transmission bypass valve knocking.Ive had it in 5 times. Does it in forward and reverse but not park. Seems to kick in when there is a light load in the driveline and the rpm drops to a minimum 60 :mad: :lemon: 0.A mechanic told me the materials Lexus uses have changed over the years to more economic ones...and the engines are not as problem free as in the past.Do you think I should go the lemon law route? I live in CA. The new car is 10 months old.

Been the Lemon Law route. Failed. They were so impressed with the LS, they could hear nothing. Total waste of my time. Your noise is high pressure injector noise. Comes and goes. Lexus won't fix it because they don't know how. Like everything else that goes wrong with the LS. I sold mine three months ago. Got tired of hearing the same answers every time I took it in for something. I gave the LS 18 years of loyalty only to be given the finger by Lexus. No more.

Turn up the radio! You have to listen so closely to hear that tick, it is nothing to worry about, nothing wrong, and you dump your car or call it a lemon because of that? I've had all kinds of luxury cars, including Mercedes. None were better, certainly none were as efficient as the Lexus. And I don't know what "mechanic" told you Lexus is using cheaper engines, but he's talking through his butt. The 460 gets better mileage than the 430 did, and has 100 more hp! I say, bring on the ticking injectors! I'll turn the radio up for that kind of improvement and technology.

Since you referred to "You Guys", I will opine. Having raced cars and worked on them for a living for part of my life, I think I understand the mechanics of these things a little better than the average Joe. You are right. There is nothing wrong with high pressure injectors. What is wrong is that Lexus sells this automobile as being the quietest car on the planet. When the windows make more wind noise than a pickup truck and gasoline engines start sounding like a diesel, then one might correctly complain that Lexus has an issue. Worse yet, they can't be honest enough to tell their patrons that the noise you are hearing is the noise of high pressure injectors. I had to tell them. As for myself, I have also owned most of the other "luxury" sedans you mentioned, including the LS for 18 years. I have been driving every kind of car on the planet in the past 50 years and I can tell you one thing. I have never had a car company have to replace both side door windows, rebuild the seats, replace all of the valve springs, replace the injector fuel rails, replace the brake actuator, and a handful of more minor issues, all within 40,000 miles. I would wish you good luck with your LS, but you have a radio. That should do the job.

You are prone toward hyperbole, aren't you? :P Having had none of those issues with my 09, my 05, and my 02 LSes, and tens if issues with my 03 S-Class, I'm happy with a little ticking under the hood. And yes, I have the Mark Levinson, best system I've ever had.